Ashleigh Butler's teary Pudsey tribute

Ashleigh Butler couldn't hold back the tears as she paid tribute to her late pet pooch Pudsey and revealed he only started showing symptoms of being ill earlier this month

Ashleigh Butler broke down in tears while discussing her pet pooch Pudsey's final days.

The 'Britain's Got Talent' winner was left devastated after her 11-year-old dog passed away from acute leukemia on Friday (21.07.17), and she revealed her canine chum only started feeling ill less than 10 days ago.

She said: "I was actually at a dog show with him last weekend and on Monday (17.07.17) he wasn't himself, he was sleeping a lot, so we took him to the vet on Tuesday.

"From the Tuesday to the Thursday he went downhill so quickly and the vet told us he had acute leukaemia and, on the Thursday, it got to the point where he couldn't even lift his head."

The dog trainer praised her four-legged friend for giving her an "incredible" opportunity after the pair became the first dog trick act to win 'Britain's Got Talent' when they triumphed in the show's sixth series final in May 2012.

She added: "It was incredible. He gave me an opportunity I never thought I'd ever have."

Ashleigh's dog Sullivan, known as Sully, will now perform with her but the star insists she will never be able to replace Pudsey.

Speaking on 'This Morning', she said: "Sully will stay as Sully. I can't change him into Pudsey. He grew up with Pudsey. Sully really looked up to him."

Ashleigh took to her Instagram account to announce the heart-breaking news last week.

Posting a collection of photos of the pair together, she wrote: "I can't honestly believe I am writing these words. My handsome man has gone, and I don't know what to do without him.

"My heart is broken, and I don't know how I'm going to get through this. It hurts so much, that my handsome, incredible Pudsey Bear will never be by my side, where he belongs, again.

"We only had 11 years together, but they were the best years ever. He was my one in a billion dog that will never be replaced.

"I don't need to write all of his endless accomplishments on here to prove how incredible he was for me.